TALLAHASSEE, Fla. –
The Florida State men’s basketball team, which has won eight of its first nine games of the 2008-09 season, plays its sixth road game of the season as it travels to play Georgia State at the Georgia State Sports Arena in Atlanta on Saturday, December 13 at 4:00 p.m. The game will be the Seminoles first since they defeated No. 21 Florida, 57-55, in Tallahassee on Dec. 7. Following the conclusion of their victory over the Gators and the beginning of their game against the Panthers, the Seminole players took their academic semester final exams. Florida State’s game against Georgia State is its fourth true road game of the season – the Seminoles are 2-1 in those games with victories at Jacksonville (Nov. 15, 59-57) and at La Salle (Nov. 18, 65-61). The Seminoles also have a pair of neutral site victories over Cincinnati (Nov. 28, 58-47) and Cal (Nov. 29, 80-77) as they claimed the championship of the Global Sports Classic. Following Saturday’s game against Georgia State, the Seminoles return home for a three game home stand against Tennessee Tech (Dec. 16), Charleston Southern (Dec. 18) and No. 3/3 Pittsburgh (Dec. 21) – a stretch which matches the longest string of consecutive games played at home this season.

FLORIDA STATE BRINGS FOUR PLAYERS HOME FOR GAME AT GEORGIA STATE
Four Seminoles – senior Toney Douglas (Jonesboro), sophomore Jordan DeMercy (Norcross) and freshmen Chris Singleton (Canton) and Pierre Jordan (Atlanta) — will all make a homecoming as the Seminoles travel to play at Georgia State.

SEMINOLES ON THE ROAD AGAIN
Florida State enters Saturday’s game against Georgia State looking for its ninth victory of the season and its fifth victory away from home. The Seminoles are a perfect 2-0 on neutral courts (victories over Cincinnati and Cal at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas), 2-1 in true road games (victories at Jacksonville and at La Salle) and are a perfect 4-0 at home in the Donald L. Tucker Center (victories over Stetson, Coastal Carolina, Western Illinois and No. 21 Florida). Florida State had a total of six victories away from home during the entire 2007-08 season with only three (vs. UAB In Daytona Beach and at Florida) coming during their pre-conference schedule.

LOOK FOR FLORIDA STATE TO…
…Defeat Georgia State and win its ninth game of the season. A win would give the Seminoles a 9-1 record – their best after 10 games since starting the 2003-04 season with a 10-0 record;
…Defeat Georgia State and gain a victory over Georgia State for the third consecutive season. It would also mark the second time in the last three seasons the Seminoles had defeated Georgia State in Atlanta (the Seminoles defeated the Panthers on Dec. 7, 2006 also in Atlanta);
…Defeat Georgia State and win its second consecutive game in the city of Atlanta. The Seminoles won at Georgia Tech during the 2007-08 season (Dec. 30, 2007, 66-61) in their only game in the city;
…Defeat Georgia State and win its fourth consecutive game against a team from the Peach State. The Seminoles were 3-0 with victories over Georgia Southern (Nov. 12, 2007, 92-67), Georgia State (Nov. 20, 2007, 78-48) and Georgia Tech (Dec. 30, 2007, 66-61) last season.

SEMINOLES GAIN WIN OVER RANKED FLORIDA TEAM
Florida State defeated No. 21 Florida, 57-55, on Sunday night at the Donald L. Tucker Center in Tallahassee. It marked the Seminoles’ first victory over a ranked team this season, their third consecutive victory over Florida, their third consecutive victory over a ranked Florida team and the 19th consecutive season the Seminoles have defeated at least one ranked team. Florida State is scheduled to play seven games against five teams currently ranked in the ESPN/USA Today Top-25 during the remainder of the 2008-09 season.

FLORIDA STATE WITH ONE MORE TRIP TO ATLANTA
The Florida State men’s basketball team will make one more trip to Atlanta this season as it plays in the 56th Annual Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament at the Georgia Dome March 12-15, 2009.

FLORIDA STATE’S START NEARLY TOPPING THE CHARTS
Florida State’s 8-1 record (.889 winning percentage) to open the 2007-08 season marks the seventh time in school history the Seminoles have won at least eight of their first nine games of a season. The Seminoles won their first 10 games of the 2003-04 season and improved to 12-1 before losing their second game of the season. Each of the six times the Seminoles have raced out to an 8-1 record they have always improved to at least 9-1 before losing their second game of the season. Florida State began the 1988-89 season with a 16-1 record before losing their second game of the season on Feb. 1.

FLORIDA STATE FROM THE FREE THROW LINE
Florida State, which has won eight of its first nine games, has made 57 free throws more than its opponents and has attempted 60 free throws more than its opponents. The Seminoles made 19 free throws (in 26 attempts) in their victory over Florida as compared to 17 attempts by the Gators. It marked the fourth time this season that Florida State had made more free throws than its opponents had attempted.

SEMINOLES KEEP FLORIDA FROM GETTING TO THE FREE THROW LINE
Florida State committed a season-low 16 personal fouls in its victory over No. 21/23 Florida on Sunday. The season-low for personal fouls by the Seminoles didn’t allow the Gators to get to the free throw line as they attempted 17 free throws (the second lowest by a Seminole opponent this season) and made only 11 free throws (the lowest total by a Seminole opponent this season).

NOTING FLORIDA STATE’S BLOCKED SHOTS
Florida State has blocked 53 shots in the first nine games of the season for a 5.9 blocked shots per game average. The Seminoles have blocked nearly as many shots this season as they did during the 2005-06 season (72 total blocked shots) and during the 1998-99 season (86 total blocked shots).

NOTING FLORIDA STATE’S STEALS
Florida State has 74 steals in the first nine games of the season for an 8.2 blocked shots per game average. The Seminoles have at least eight steals in six of the first nine games of the season and earned a season-high 15 steals in its victory over Stetson (Nov. 20).

NOTING FLORIDA STATE’S STEALS AND BLOCKED SHOTS
Florida State has more steals (74-61) and more blocked shots (53-18) than its opponents through the first nine games of the 2008-09 season. It marks the third consecutive season the Seminoles have more steals and blocked shots that their opponent. Florida State had 290 steals (as compared to its opponents 205 steals) and blocked 130 shots (as compared to its opponents 111 blocked shots) during the 2007-08 season.

ROAD WARRIORS
Florida State travels to play at Georgia State in its sixth game away from Tallahassee. With a record of 8-1 entering its game against the Panthers the Seminoles have won as many games they have played away from home (four) than they have at home (four).

FLORIDA STATE VS. GEORGIA STATE - A SERIES HISTORY
The Series: Florida State leads, 5-0
Last Game: Nov. 20, 2007; at Florida State 78, Georgia State 48
Last Florida State Win: Nov. 20, 2007; at Florida State 78, Georgia State 48
Last Georgia State Win: None
Last Florida State Win in Atlanta: Dec. 7, 2006; Florida State 87, Georgia State 55
Last Georgia State win in Atlanta: None
Current Streak: Florida State has won 5
Leonard Hamilton vs. Georgia State: 1-0 (at Florida State)

FLORIDA STATE VS. GEORGIA STATE – THE LAST GAMEUche Echefu scored 18 points, and Florida State defeated Georgia State, 78-48, at the Donald L. Tucker Center on Nov. 20, 2007. Echefu made 6-of-7 from the field, including 2-for-3 from the 3-point line and 4-for-4 from the free throw line. He added five rebounds. Isaiah Swann scored 14 points and Toney Douglas added 10 for the Seminoles. The Seminoles scored 33 points off of 26 Georgia State turnovers and outscored the Panthers 32-18 in the paint. Florida State held Georgia State to 33-percent shooting from the field. Ousman Krubally and Justin Billingslea both scored 11 for Georgia State, who outrebounded the taller Seminoles 41-30. Billingslea also had seven rebounds but fouled out. The Panthers shot just 10-for-20 from the free throw line, and made only two of its 10 3-point attempts. Florida State shot 50-percent from the field in the first half on its way to a 35-21 lead at the break. A 15-4 run midway through the second half sealed the win.